Jesus Gives Rest
In his sermon, Corey references a previous message on work and rest. Listen to that sermon here.
For Meditation
We are barely two chapters in to the Gospel of Mark, and Jesus is already creating massive conflict. Last week we saw him trigger a major controversy through his claim to be able to forgive sin, and this week we’ll see him push against a sacred law and practice of his people: the right keeping of the Sabbath.
At first glance, it appears that Jesus is flagrantly breaking the Sabbath and rubbing it in the faces of the religious leaders. But in reality, Jesus is not breaking the Sabbath- he is rather contravening the twisted ways that the religious leaders had made the Sabbath into a series of convoluted rules and regulations. Jesus is attempting to show them that he has come not to break but to fulfill the Sabbath- that he in fact is the “Lord of the Sabbath,” the one to whom the Sabbath always pointed.
In a time of immense restlessness and conflict, it is beautiful to meditate on Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath. He has come to give us deep rest of soul, and to ultimately bring creation itself into everlasting Shalom. In preparation for this Sunday, meditate on these beautiful words of Jesus:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Mark 2:23–3:6
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
1 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.